Emergency Assistance

When emergency situations arise, DSS offers programs for adults and families, who qualify, to help them through tough times. Contact us if you believe you may qualify.

Emergency Assistance to Adults (EAA)EAA benefits are available to only Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients who face emergency situations that endanger their health, safety or welfare. Emergency benefits include financial help to prevent evictions and homelessness, emergency housing and payment for utilities and moving expenses.

Emergency Assistance to Families (EAF)EAF is a federal program for people dealing with crises and emergency situations beyond their control. Such situations include eviction, homelessness, heating fuel, utility disconnects, domestic violence and child care needs. To be eligible for EAF, either as part of an ongoing temporary assistance case or for one-time only assistance, certain criteria must be met:

A child is without immediately accessible resources to meet his needs.

The family must have a child under age 18 or a child under age 19 who regularly attends secondary school.

The child receiving EAF must be living with an eligible relative.

A woman who has been medically verified as pregnant, but has no other children, may receive EAF if she is otherwise eligible for public assistance.

Emergency Safety Net Assistance (E-SNA)E-SNA may be available for those persons not eligible for recurring Temporary Assistance or Emergency Assistance to Families (EAF). In order to be eligible for E-SNA, there must be an identified emergency need requiring prompt attention and the individual or family must be without income or resources immediately available to meet the emergency need.

The income standard for E-SNA is 125 percent of the Federal Income Official Poverty Line, which is updated annually by the federal Department of Health and Human Services. This standard does not apply if the emergency is the result of a fire, flood or other like catastrophe, or if the emergency assistance is granted in accordance with Department regulations 352.5 (c), (d), and (e) which apply to the termination or restoration of utility services.